Lately, I’ve been feeling extra festive. The playing of Christmas music on the radio and in public places is finally accepted by everyone (I hope), decorations are up, sappy romantic commercials are airing, and everything extra sugary and fattening is piling up in our break rooms and grocery carts. We’re contemplating what gifts to give to those difficult-to-buy-for family members, baking dozens of cookies, and choosing which Christmas Eve church service time slot will best fit our evening festivities. The warm and fuzzy feeling of Christmas has officially been lit in our hearts. It’s back again. Another year of cheer, and excitement, and happiness.
Right?
Because I have to be honest for a second. Our cultural definition and symbols of what Christmas time is–Santa, shiny gifts, family get-togethers, snow, parties, romance under some mistletoe–is all fine and dandy. There is nothing inherently wrong with anything that we celebrate, or any of the ways that we celebrate. But I can’t help but be reminded of the fact that I think sometimes we lose sight of the actual reason for WHY we celebrate Christmas in the first place, and WHERE our source of joy for the season should actually come from.
I think that sometimes, as we surf social media and see pictures of large families happily gathered together by a fire or couples getting engaged in front of a Christmas tree, we must remember that those scenarios are not the case for every one of us. For some of us, along with the holidays comes reminders that magnify our deep, deep pain. Pain from the loss of a loved one, whether recently or twenty years ago. Pain from the burden of a broken family, or a broken relationship. Pain from the rejection of others’ love and acceptance. Pain from anxiety, or depression, or the stress of knowing or finding our purpose in this world and on this Earth. Pain from the shock of a diagnosis. The happiness and excitement for Christmas time in a world as broken as this simply can not be found solely in the cultural festivities that we consistently promote and dwell in during this season. They must be found in something, someone, so much greater: Jesus.
That is why in the midst of the busy-ness of the season, we must strive to remember that our sole source of joy comes from the most beautiful and remarkable gift that this world has ever seen: a King of all Kings who came to this world as a squealing infant, with a physical body. To save us. To restore our souls. To live a perfect life of service and selflessness and sacrifice, so that we might be free from the burden of pain and guilt that exudes from our shattered lives of brokenness. Can you even imagine the joy that filled the air that incredible evening?? Can you envision the reverence, the anticipation, the exhilaration that everyone felt for the humble birth of a Savior who would shine the brightest of lights into this world, who was born into a world so incredibly dark and dreary? Just consider it for a second, and you will be filled with joy that brings tears to your eyes.
That is why we celebrate Christmas, friends. Because we are truthful, and admit that we are all broken people with broken lives, aching souls, and messy circumstances. But, in a season such as this one, we can rely on Jesus Christ to motivate us to love others deeply, and to cherish this holiday not based on the cultural traditions of the past, but rather on the good, good news of a birth. Let Him heal your heart and light your candle this season, and go let it shine brightly to others!
Merry Christmas!
Much love,
Cait
**photograph: “Gerard van Honthorst, 1622”, from http://www.jesus-story.net/painting_birth_christ.htm
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